At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to provide top-notch operational support in a dynamic legal environment.
- Company: Join a leading legal firm with a focus on innovation and teamwork.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development opportunities, and a supportive work culture.
- Other info: Exciting opportunities for growth and collaboration in a fast-paced setting.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by enhancing team efficiency and driving process improvements.
- Qualifications: Experience in line management and strong communication skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 £ per year.
Based in Edinburgh or Glasgow with regular travel required to other offices.
JOB PURPOSE
We are excited to be growing our secretarial function and we are currently looking for three Practice Support Managers to join our fantastic legal teams. The primary responsibility of the Practice Support Manager (PSM) is to deliver effective and efficient operational and administrative support to their assigned practice area. This service will be predominantly delivered via the Executive Assistants and Legal Document Secretaries/Transaction Support Assistants and Senior Executive Assistant line managed by the PSM.
CORE TASKS
- Provide line management to and have responsibility for the secretarial colleagues supporting the practice area. This includes providing advice, guidance and coaching to team members, encouraging a collaborative and cohesive team environment.
- Work closely with the partners and legal services colleagues in the practice area to develop a robust understanding of their needs, building appropriate plans to support delivery and address any challenges.
- Have a continual focus on having processes and resource in place to ensure administrative and other relevant non-chargeable tasks are undertaken by the secretarial team and not legal services colleagues.
- Identify skills and expertise required to deliver an effective service. Work with team members to assess any skills gaps or training needs, partnering with the relevant teams in People Engagement and I&T to address any gaps and implement relevant training programmes.
- Adopt a continuous improvement mindset, identifying opportunities for process improvement (particularly in relation to technology) and enhanced service delivery and encouraging others to do the same.
- Actively leverage Microsoft Copilot and other emerging technologies to streamline administrative processes, improve turnaround times, and support high-quality service delivery.
- Work with the partners and legal services colleagues in the practice area to understand and address, update and monitor processes or activities required for risk management purposes including but not limited to storage of principal documents, updating the key dates database, distribution of mail, updating executry packets.
- Communicate regularly and clearly with the legal team and the Senior EA with regards to resource and support including holidays and sickness absence.
- Responsible for line management activities including 3-month reviews, performance reviews and appraisals.
- Plan for resource needs and undertake recruitment. Partner with People Engagement to address any performance, absence or wellbeing issues.
- Monitor unplanned absence and emergency/dependent leave. Ensure legal services colleagues are aware of absences (whether planned or unplanned) and that resource is in place to cover, ensuring consistency of service.
- Monitor and approve overtime and TOIL requests.
- Training of new and existing secretarial colleagues in a timely manner, develop standard training plans and, as required, bespoke training plans, develop and monitor ongoing training for colleagues.
- Ensure secretarial colleagues have ongoing training including specifically aderant, Word 10 bundledocs and all other relevant technologies and tools.
- Manage the legal services allocations within the team, including for any new joiners (secretarial colleagues and legal services colleagues).
- Update the BigHand server and colleague directory with any new joiners/changes to allocations.
- Allocate Trainees to their EA in line with their allocated Line Manager in advance of the practice area seat moves taking place within the business.
- Carry out additional practice specific duties as required to support the effective operation of the practice area.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
- Highly experienced line manager and Executive Assistant/Personal Assistant.
- Strong communicator with the ability to build relationships and influence colleagues at all levels across the firm.
- Self-motivated.
- Resilient.
- Ability to work through ambiguity to identify core issues, putting in place plans to address.
- Ability to work under pressure, often with tight deadlines.
- Proactive in problem solving.
- Ability to effectively communicate (both verbally and written) at all levels to achieve positive outcomes, with a demonstrated ability to persuasively facilitate opposing views.
- Ability to work independently, with minimal day-to-day instruction and supervision.
- Ability to quickly understand/adapt to change and conflicting priorities of stakeholders.
- Ability to multitask and prioritise.
- Actively support the Firm’s vision and strategies including embracing and promoting change and communicating and executing on challenging decisions.
ADDITIONAL SKILLS
- Excellent in the use of Microsoft applications: Outlook – diary management, contacts, tasks.
Practice Support Manager employer: Brodies LLP
As a Practice Support Manager at our esteemed legal firm, you will thrive in a dynamic and supportive work environment located in the vibrant cities of Edinburgh or Glasgow. We prioritise employee growth through continuous training and development opportunities, fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation while leveraging cutting-edge technology to enhance service delivery. Join us to be part of a team that values your contributions and encourages a proactive approach to problem-solving, ensuring a rewarding and meaningful career path.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Practice Support Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the legal field, especially those who might know about openings for Practice Support Managers. A friendly chat can often lead to opportunities that aren't even advertised.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the firm and its culture. Understand their approach to team collaboration and technology use, as this will help you showcase how you can fit into their vision and enhance their operations.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! During interviews, share examples of how you've successfully managed teams and improved processes. This will demonstrate your capability to handle the responsibilities of a Practice Support Manager.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Practice Support Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Practice Support Manager role. Highlight your experience in line management and administrative support, and don’t forget to showcase your skills in using Microsoft applications!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re the perfect fit for our team. Mention specific experiences that relate to the core tasks outlined in the job description.
Showcase Your Communication Skills:As a Practice Support Manager, strong communication is key. In your application, demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing. This will help us see how you can build relationships within our teams.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Brodies LLP
✨Know Your Role Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the responsibilities of a Practice Support Manager. Familiarise yourself with the core tasks mentioned in the job description, such as line management and process improvement. This will help you articulate how your experience aligns with their needs.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a PSM, you'll be managing a team, so be prepared to discuss your leadership style. Think of examples where you've successfully guided a team or resolved conflicts. Highlight your ability to foster a collaborative environment and how you've supported team members in their development.
✨Demonstrate Your Problem-Solving Abilities
The role requires a proactive approach to problem-solving, especially under pressure. Prepare specific examples of challenges you've faced in previous roles and how you tackled them. This will show that you can handle ambiguity and conflicting priorities effectively.
✨Embrace Technology
With a focus on leveraging technology like Microsoft Copilot, be ready to discuss your experience with relevant tools and how you've used them to improve processes. Share any innovative ideas you have for enhancing service delivery through technology, as this will resonate well with the firm's goals.
